This page is the starting point of our guide for foreign investors who want to acquire Turkish citizenship by investment. Turhan Hukuk & Danışmanlık is an Ankara law firm; we explain the legal rules, check each file against the current texts and represent clients before the authorities and the administrative courts.
Short answer: Yes. Under Article 12(1)(b) of the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 and Article 20(2) of its Implementing Regulation, a foreigner who makes one of the listed investments can acquire Turkish citizenship by Presidential decision. The lowest threshold is USD 400,000 in real estate held for at least three years; most other routes require USD 500,000, and one route requires creating 50 jobs. Meeting the threshold does not guarantee approval: the decision is discretionary and subject to a national security and public order review.
Last updated: 28 October 2026 · Written by Av. Osman Turhan
Key facts
- Legal basis: Law No. 5901, art. 12(1)(b); Implementing Regulation, art. 20(2)
- Lowest threshold: USD 400,000 in real estate, with a three-year no-sale annotation on the title deed
- Other routes: USD 500,000 (fixed capital, bank deposit, government debt instruments, fund units, private pension) or 50 jobs
- Holding period: Three years for real estate, deposits, government debt instruments, fund units and pension contributions
- Decision: Presidential decision after a national security and public order review; meeting a threshold is not a guarantee
- Last verified: 28 October 2026, against the legal texts listed below
Change log
- 29 October 2026 – Added key facts, breadcrumbs, author and review information; clarified the fee wording.
- 28 October 2026 – First publication, checked against Law No. 5901, the Implementing Regulation and the authorities’ published procedures.
Investment routes (Regulation art. 20/2)
| Route | Minimum | Condition | Certifying authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real estate | USD 400,000 | Three-year no-sale annotation on the title deed (condominium or building-right property, land with a building, or a notarised sale promise paid in full) | Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change |
| Fixed capital investment | USD 500,000 | – | Ministry of Industry and Technology |
| Bank deposit | USD 500,000 | Held for three years in a bank operating in Türkiye | Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BRSA) |
| Government debt instruments | USD 500,000 | Held for three years | Ministry of Treasury and Finance |
| Real estate or venture capital investment fund units | USD 500,000 | Held for at least three years | Capital Markets Board (CMB) |
| Private pension system contribution | USD 500,000 | Stays in the system for three years | Insurance and Private Pension Regulation and Supervision Authority |
| Employment | 50 people | – | Ministry of Labour and Social Security |
Amounts can be met in foreign currency or the equivalent; values are converted at the Central Bank effective selling rate on the date of determination (art. 20/6). For the real estate, deposit, government debt, fund and pension routes, the foreign currency must be sold to a bank and through it to the Central Bank before the transaction (art. 20/10). Moving between investment types to complete the three-year period is allowed (art. 20/8).
How the process works
- Plan before you pay. Check the route, the seller, the title deed and any encumbrances, and the valuation and payment steps.
- Make the investment through the Turkish banking system and keep every receipt and conversion record.
- Obtain the certificate of conformity from the authority that certifies your route (see the table).
- Apply for the short-term residence permit for investors under Article 31(1)(j) of Law No. 6458.
- File the citizenship application with the provincial population and citizenship directorate; the file is sent to the Ministry of Interior.
- Review and decision. The authorities check for national security and public order obstacles, and the decision is made by the President.
The order and the documents differ by route, and the authorities update their procedures from time to time. We confirm the current instructions of each authority before every step.
Spouse and children
The Law allows the investor’s foreign spouse and the minor or dependent foreign children of the investor or the spouse to acquire citizenship in the same procedure (Law No. 5901, art. 12(1)(b)). No separate investment is required for them.
Where files go wrong
- Value and valuation: paying at least USD 400,000 is not enough by itself; the value must be established through the prescribed valuation and certificate process.
- Payment and currency conversion: foreign currency must be converted through a bank as required by Regulation art. 20/10.
- Title deed: the three-year annotation must be on the deed, and mortgages, seizures or other encumbrances must be checked beforehand.
- Statements and documents: false or missing information can lead to rejection and, later, to cancellation of the decision under Law No. 5901, art. 31.
- Changing rules: valuation, payment and review procedures were revised in 2026, and the authorities reported reviews and cancellations of past files. We check the current texts before each step.
Our guide to Turkish citizenship by investment
- Real estate routeUSD 400,000, annotation, valuation
- Other investment routesDeposit, bonds, funds, pension, capital, jobs
- Process and documentsSteps, power of attorney, presence
- Spouse and childrenWho can be included
- Rejection, cancellation and lawsuitsDeadlines and court routes
- Costs, tax and 2026 updatesWhat changed and when
- Turkish citizenship lawyer in AnkaraHow we work with you
How we work with international clients
- All areas of law. Turhan Hukuk & Danışmanlık advises individuals and companies in every field of law. This section of our website is dedicated to foreign investors and citizenship matters.
- Language. We communicate in English and Turkish. Documents in Arabic, Persian or Russian are processed with sworn translator support. An Arabic interpreter can join one-to-one meetings by appointment, in person or online; interpreting is charged separately.
- Fees. The first meeting is free unless legal advice is given. Reviewing your file or giving a legal opinion is a paid service, and fees are agreed in writing in advance.
- No guarantees. We cannot promise a result. The decision belongs to the authorities, and we tell you plainly what the law and the file allow.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner get Turkish citizenship by investing in Türkiye?
Yes. Under Article 12(1)(b) of Law No. 5901 and Article 20(2) of the Implementing Regulation, a foreigner who makes a qualifying investment can acquire Turkish citizenship by Presidential decision, provided there is no national security or public order obstacle.
What is the minimum investment?
USD 400,000 (or the equivalent in foreign currency) for real estate, with a three-year no-sale annotation on the title deed. Fixed capital, bank deposit, government debt instruments, real estate or venture capital fund units and private pension contributions require at least USD 500,000. Creating jobs for at least 50 people is a separate route.
How long must I keep the investment?
Three years for real estate, deposits, government debt instruments, fund units and private pension contributions. Selling or withdrawing earlier can put the file or the citizenship at risk, so plan the holding period before you invest.
Can my spouse and children be included?
Yes. The Law allows the investor’s foreign spouse and the minor or dependent foreign children of the investor or the spouse to acquire citizenship in the same procedure.
Is approval guaranteed if I meet the threshold?
No. The decision is made by the President, and requests of persons who pose an obstacle in terms of national security and public order are rejected (Law No. 5901, art. 12). Meeting the investment threshold is a condition, not a promise.
Can citizenship acquired by investment be cancelled?
Yes. Under Article 31 of Law No. 5901, a citizenship decision is cancelled by the authority that issued it if it was based on a false statement or on concealment of material facts.
Can you act for me if I am abroad?
Property and banking steps can be handled under a power of attorney that meets Turkish formal requirements. Whether your personal presence is needed at the residence permit and citizenship stages depends on the authority’s current practice, and we confirm this with you at the start of every file.
Legal basis and sources
- Law No. 5901 on Turkish Citizenship – art. 12, art. 31
- Regulation on the Implementation of the Turkish Citizenship Law – art. 20
- Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection – art. 31(1)(j)
- Invest in Türkiye: Acquiring property and citizenship
- Capital Markets Board: procedure for the fund route
Related guides (in Turkish): Türk vatandaşlığı kazanma yolları · Vatandaşlık davası
This page is general information, not legal advice for your case. Results depend on the facts of each file and on the decisions of the authorities.
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Send your messages and book your appointment in English or Turkish. Office hours: Monday–Friday 09:00–18:00, Saturday 09:00–15:00.
Av. Osman Turhan
Turhan Hukuk & Danışmanlık, Ankara — foreigners and citizenship law first, followed by real estate, corporate and tax, administrative, family, labour, enforcement, criminal, inheritance, traffic accident, health and consumer law.